ENB Emerging Dancer 2024

And the winner is…no, not quite yet – let’s hold the suspense a little longer in keeping with last night’s nail-biting final, which saw six hopefuls compete at Sadler's Wells tor the coveted title of Emerging Dancer 2024.

Emerging Dancer is an annual event organised by English National Ballet to recognise the talent and commitment of young dancers in the lower ranks of the company. Some of today's soloists and principals are former Emerging Dancer winners, for example, lead principal Aitor Arrieta, Emerging Dancer 2017, and first artist Eric Snyder, the 2022 winner.

The finalists are nominated by their peers who turn up in force to support and encourage the performers with much cheering and clapping; and you get the sense that Emerging Dancer, which has been going since 2010, serves as a bonding exercise for the company, as well as, obviously, giving the general public an opportunity to spot the potential stars of the future.

Six finalists, three men and three women, were paired off to perform a classical pas de deux and a contemporary duet each. And it must be said that on the night, side by side with unquestionable artistry, nerves and unfortunate repertoire choices played a role.

Still, it was clear from the moment Breanna Foad and Thiago Pereira walked on with tremendous aplomb to dance the Venetian Carnival duet from Satanella that the final choice would have to be between these two. Solid technique and enviable assurance allowed them to offer an engaging interpretation, virtually error-free. Foad was charming, mischievous, teasing; an attentive self-effacing partner, Pereira put on a virtuoso display in his own solo variations, with soaring jumps, controlled turns and fast beats.

Their contemporary duet, an especially commissioned piece by choreographer Ching-Ying Chien entitled Penrose, reinforced the impression that here were two stars of the future. Faced with an intense, intricate piece that required perfect coordination between bodies that intertwined to form bizarre shapes, they offered a compelling performance.

Breanna Foad and Thiago Pereira in Penrose. Photo: Laurent Liotardo
Either would have been a worthy winner; in the end the four-person jury picked – fanfare! – the Australian dancer Breanna Foad, who finished her training at English National Ballet School and joined ENB in 2018.

Two other awards were announced on the night: the Corps de Ballet Award, chosen by the company dancers, went to Anna-Babette Winkler, also an Emerging Dancer finalist; and the People’s Choice Award, voted by the public throughout the season, went to the delightful Precious Adams, who became the first dancer ever to win this award twice – she was also the winner in 2022.

The evening, sponsored by Chanel, was compered by ENB director Aaron S Watkin, clearly proud of his dancers; live music came from the English National Ballet Philharmonic under the baton of principal guest conductor Gavin Sutherland.